Hooded crows from the battlements of Ch’ang-an flew cawing by night over the Gate of Autumn and thence to the homes of men, pecking at the great roofs, warning the high ministers who dwelt beneath to flee from the barbarian. Golden whips were flailed until they snapped and the royal horses sank dead with exhaustion beneath them; but many of the Emperor’s own close kin were unable to gallop with him.
With a precious jade emblem and blue coral pendant at his waist, a pitiful young prince stands weeping at the corner of the street. Questioned, he is unwilling to tell me his name; he will only say that he is in great distress, and begs me to take him as my slave. He has already been lying in concealment for a hundred days amongst the thorn-bushes and has not a whole piece of skin on his body; but descendants of the August Emperor all have the imperial nose; the Seed of the Dragon are not as other men are.
Wolves and jackals now occupy the city; the dragons are out in the wilds: Your Highness must take care of his precious person! I dare not talk very long with you here beside the crossroads, but I will stand with Your Highness just a little while.
Last night the east wind carried a stench of blood and the ‘former capital’ was full of camels from the east. The Shuo-fang veterans were splendid soldiers. How bold and keen they were a while ago, and how foolish they look today! I’ve heard tell that the Son of Heaven has abdicated. And they say that in the North the Khan is so indebted for the favours shown him by his Sacred Majesty that at Hua-men he and all his warriors slashed their faces and vowed to wipe out this humiliation. But we must mind what we say, with so many spies about. Alas, poor prince! Be on your guard! May the protecting power that emanates from the Imperial Tombs go always with you!
5. 哀王孫 Āi wáng-sūn
Āi wáng-sūn
長 安 城 頭 頭 白 烏
1. Cháng-ān chéng-tóu tóu-bái wū,
夜 飛 延 秋 門 上 呼
2. Yè fēi Yán-qiū-mén-shàng hū.
又 向 人 家 啄 大 屋”
3. Yòu xiàng rén-jiā zhuó dà-wū,
屋 底 達 官 走 避 胡
4. Wū-dǐ dá-guān zǒu bì hú.
金 鞭 斷 折 九 馬 死
5. Jīn biān duàn-zhé jiǔ mǎ sǐ,
骨 肉 不 得 同 馳 驅
6. Gǔ-ròu bū-dé tóng chí-qū.
腰 下 寶 玦 青 珊 瑚
7. Yāo-xià bǎo-jué qīng shān-hú,
可 憐 王 孫 泣 路 隅
8. Kě-lián wáng-sūn qì lù-yú.
問 之 不 肯 道 姓 名
9. Wèn zhī bù-kěn dào xìng-míng,
但 道 困 苦 乞 為 奴
10. Dàn dào kùn-kǔ qǐ wéi nú.
已 經 百 日 竄 荊 棘
11. Yǐ-jīng bǎi-rì cuàn jīng-jí,
身 上 無 有 完 肌 膚
12. Shēn-shàng wú-yǒu wán jī-fū.
高 帝 子 孫 盡 隆 準
13. Gāo-dì zǐ-sūn jìn lóng-zhǔn,
龍 種 自 與 常 人 殊
14. Lóng-zhǒng zì yǔ cháng-rén shū.
豺 狼 在 邑 龍 在 野
15. Chái-láng zài yì lóng zài yě,
王 孫 善 保 千 金 軀
16. Wáng-sūn shàn bǎo qiān-jīn qū!
不 敢 長 語 臨 交 衢
17. Bù-gǎn cháng-yǔ lín jiāo-qú,
且 為 王 孫 立 斯 須
18. Qiě wèi wáng-sūn lì sī-xū.
昨 夜 東 風 吹 血 腥
19. Zuó-yè dōng-fēng chuī xuè-xīng,
東 來 橐 駞 滿 舊 都
20. Dōng-lái tuó-tuó mǎn jiù-dū.
朔 方 健 兒 好 身 手
21. Shuò-fāng jiàn-ér hǎo shēn-shǒu,
昔 何 勇 銳 今 何 愚
22. Xī hé yǒng-ruì jīn hé yú!
竊 聞 天 子 已 傳 位
23. Qiè-wén tiān-zǐ yǐ chuán-wèi,
聖 德 北 服 南 單 于
24. Shèng-dé běi fú Nán-chán-yú,
花 門 剺 面 請 雪 恥”
25. Huā-mén lí-miàn qǐng xuě-chǐ.
慎 勿 出 口 他 人 狙
26. Shèn-wù chū-kǒu tā-rén jū!
哀 哉 王 孫 慎 勿 疏
27. Āi-zāi wáng-sūn shèn-wù shū!
五 陵 佳 氣 無 時 無
28. Wǔ-líng jiā-qì wú-shí wú!
Read Aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXaBXTljeLU
The Unfortunate Prince
Hooded crows from the battlements of Ch’ang-an flew cawing by night over the Gate of Autumn and thence to the homes of men, pecking at the great roofs, warning the high ministers who dwelt beneath to flee from the barbarian. Golden whips were flailed until they snapped and the royal horses sank dead with exhaustion beneath them; but many of the Emperor’s own close kin were unable to gallop with him.
With a precious jade emblem and blue coral pendant at his waist, a pitiful young prince stands weeping at the corner of the street. Questioned, he is unwilling to tell me his name; he will only say that he is in great distress, and begs me to take him as my slave. He has already been lying in concealment for a hundred days amongst the thorn-bushes and has not a whole piece of skin on his body; but descendants of the August Emperor all have the imperial nose; the Seed of the Dragon are not as other men are.
Wolves and jackals now occupy the city; the dragons are out in the wilds: Your Highness must take care of his precious person! I dare not talk very long with you here beside the crossroads, but I will stand with Your Highness just a little while.
Last night the east wind carried a stench of blood and the ‘former capital’ was full of camels from the east. The Shuo-fang veterans were splendid soldiers. How bold and keen they were a while ago, and how foolish they look today! I’ve heard tell that the Son of Heaven has abdicated. And they say that in the North the Khan is so indebted for the favours shown him by his Sacred Majesty that at Hua-men he and all his warriors slashed their faces and vowed to wipe out this humiliation. But we must mind what we say, with so many spies about. Alas, poor prince! Be on your guard! May the protecting power that emanates from the Imperial Tombs go always with you!